"Birthplace of Adolf Schicklgruber a.k.a. Hitler" Braunau am Inn by lotharlerch

Braunau am Inn Travel Guide: 15 reviews and 27 photos

A rather unspectacular town

Braunau is just one of many in architectonical respects quite similar "Inn-Salzach-towns" but there are most of them more interesting (Innsbruck, Hall, Schwaz, Rattenberg, Kufstein, Wasserburg, Passau along the Inn and Hallein, Salzburg, Tittmoning and Burghausen along the Salzach river). The reason of a particular interest in Braunau is simply the fact that it is the birthplace of Adolf Schicklgruber aka Hitler.

Why I visited Braunau

First simply because it is the district capital (Bezirkshauptstadt) of the district in which the much better known place Fúcking (on which I built my most popular VT page) is situated. And second it was until to this day the largest Austrian town which I never visited before (it has only approximately 17500 inhabitants).

I had almost succeeded much earlier to visit it . When I was working in Salzburg in 1989 I used to do short car trips after work in the late afternoons of the rare non-rainy spring days in Salzburg to explore the wider surroundings. So it happened that I drove from Salzburg half an hour north on 20 April. While I came closer to Braunau I saw plenty of police along the road so I was strictly obeying all speed limits (what I otherwise not always did then). When I could see the first houses of Braunau the road was blocked and all drivers got a leaflet explaining the reason. The centre of the town was off-limits for all not living there and it was only possible to reach the outskirts of town. The reason was Hitler's 100th anniversary, which was a heavily celebrated day in the former Third Reich. So I found a parking and looked at the weird scenery around me. It was definitely not crowded. The police was the clear majority (and many of the others probably were plainclothe police). And there were no locals around, only a few skinheads in black leather speaking Italian, a truck from the Polish TV and some elderly Germans in leather shorts with female company folcloristically dressed. I was joking that they did such a long trip and can not celebrate the birthday in town. They answered to be very happy at least to be close to the place on this glorious day...

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:I can not find any real pro's. Clean and sleepy.
  • Cons:If it was not this specific "fame" even no con's
  • In a nutshell:One visit is enough
  • Last visit to Braunau am Inn: Sep 2003
  • Intro Updated Nov 13, 2009
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Reviews (11)

Comments (17)

  • Jul 26, 2008 at 11:21 AM

    It is hard to imagine that anybody even mentions Hitler. This site is sick

  • globetrott's Profile Photo
    Apr 13, 2008 at 9:07 PM

    an interesting page and a great town, that certainly would deserve to be known for its lovely architecture, rather than for the birthplace of a monster !

  • fabrice's Profile Photo
    Jan 14, 2008 at 2:15 AM

    very interesting , in every country you have birthplaces of monsters and birthplaces of marvellous people

  • KiKitC's Profile Photo
    Nov 14, 2006 at 3:39 AM

    Hope you have a fantastic birthday! Enjoyed your tips!

  • quartinb's Profile Photo
    Oct 26, 2004 at 11:25 AM

    ,,,who cares about hitler birthplace?,,,yac,,,!

  • iandsmith's Profile Photo
    May 16, 2004 at 3:14 AM

    Never heard of the place. I suppose there are a few million who wish they hadn't either! Yet again, your eloquence has struck a vibrant chord with me.

  • ratherton's Profile Photo
    Mar 3, 2004 at 12:09 PM

    20th April !! Same birthday as my ex-wife

  • Helga67's Profile Photo
    Jan 24, 2004 at 1:33 PM

    Interesting to read. Didn't know he was born here.

  • Roeffie's Profile Photo
    Jan 12, 2004 at 12:07 PM

    A bad guy, but a nice town!

  • CliffClaven's Profile Photo
    Dec 2, 2003 at 1:49 AM

    Delightful town - in spite of its most famous son

lotharlerch

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